Crown top for grates.



No. 842,040. PATENTED M1522, 190v. J. E. WARD.

GROWN TOP FOR GRATES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1906.

Y A TTORNIE Y5 JOHN EDl/VARD WARD, HILL CITY, TENNESSEE.

CROWN TOP FOR GRATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed July 12,1906. Serial No. 326,963.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN EDWARD WARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hill City, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Crown Top for Grates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to grate-fireplaces, and relates more particularly to crown tops for this class of fireplaces. The crown tops with which I am acquainted are objectionable, for the main reason that they quickly deteriorate and are required to be frequently renewed. This is due largely to the irregular heating to which the crown is subjected. The crown tops are commonly constructed of fire brick tiles, and the heating and cool ing of the tiles results in their cracking, so that they become practically useless after a single firing season.

One of the objects of my invention is to overcome the difficulties above mentioned by the provision of a crown top so construct ed as to have a long life, so that the expense and trouble of frequent renewals is obviated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crown top through which currents of air are directed so as to keep the same relatively cool, the crown top being adapted to operate in connection with air-ducts that draw cool air from the room, so as to incidentally assist in the proper heating and ventilating of the latter.

WVith these objects in view and others as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and set forth with particularity in the claim appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a fireplace with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the crown to Iorresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference. I

In the present instance I have elected to illustrate the invention in connection with a common form of fireplace; but I desire to have it understood that the principles underlying the invention may be carried out in connection with other forms of fireplace.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a fireplace; 2, the grate; 3, the hearth; 4, the flue, and 5 the breast. The crown top 6 is disposed with its length horizontal and located above the grate 2 in suitable proximity to the breast 5 to form the throat 7 between the fireplace and. flue. The crown top is preferably cast in two parts, arranged to form a hollow from end to end. The lower part 8, forming the bottom face or fire-wall, has internal flanges 8 on the rear and front walls 10 and 1]., respectively, for supporting the top plate 9. The top and bottom faces 9 and 8 are preferably, although not necessarily, parallel, and they are comparatively thin, so as to readily expand and. contract.

under changes in temperature without cracking. The rear and front walls of the crown top are of slightly greater thickness and each is splayed so that as the rear face is presented to the back wall 12 of the fireplace the fire-wall 8 of the crown will be inclined at an angle to the horizontal plane for the purpose of better deflecting the heat into the room. The splay of the front wall 11 co operates with the breast 5 to form the throat 7.

The crown top may be supported in place in any desired manner, and arranged to communicate with the ends thereof are air-ducts 13, disposed along the end walls 14 of the fireplace and at opposite ends of the grate 2.

The lower ends of the air-ducts 13 are opened, as indicated at 15, to admit air from the room. The open ends of the air-ducts are preferably close to the hearth of the fireplace, so as to draw the coldest air from the room, and thereby promote the circulation of the air in the room and improve ventilation. The currents of air passing up through the air ducts are discharged into opposite ends of the crown top and pass to the center thereof and there find exit through oulets 16 in the top wall 9 of the crown top. The outlets 16 may discharge directly into the flue or chimney 4, so that the draft in the latter will pro duce a strong suction of air through the ducts 13 and crown top 6, so that the relatively cool currentsof air keep the crown top from becoming excessively hot and materially assist in ventilating the room.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. It will be seen that the crown top is simple and inexpensive to construct, and by reason of its being able to stand the sudden changes in temperature it can be used for a considerable period of time before replacing is necessary.

I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodi ment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that various changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is- The combination of a fireplace provided with a grate, with a crown-top removably supported over the grate and extending horizontally the full length of the fireplace and comprising a hollow open-ended body provided with apertures at its top and arranged with its bottom inclined forwardly from the rear wall of the fireplace, and upright airducts supported at each end of the grate and connected with the 0 en ends of the crown top and open at their ower ends for receiving relatively cool air and discharging it through the crown top.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN EDWARD WARD.

Witnesses:

J. W. Scorr, M. H. DOUGHTY. 

